Badger cross country finishes strong
POST FALLS — Badgers showcased their skills and improved abilities to run through challenging courses at the Post Falls meet on Sept. 2.
Badgers initially expected to race at Kiwanis Park, but because of a mother goose taking residence at the site, the event was moved to Q'emlin Park on the Spokane River in Post Falls.
According to head coach Tyler Warner, the Post Falls team set up a beautiful 1.8-mile course that started and finished on the beach. The course featured a segment through a well-shaded park and up into some rocky hills as well.
Warner said the technical elements of the course were difficult to push through, but the Badgers have shown much improvement and are better at the technical aspects of the meet.
The race was organized by classes, with freshmen boys starting the race, followed by the freshman and sophomore girls, sophomore boys and finally seniors.
Warner quickly pointed out that the boys and girls performed well by adjusting their run going through the little hills and turns, which helped them improve during practice.
“A lot of folks give me a hard time about ‘how do you coach cross-country besides telling them things like 'run faster!’” Warner said. “ There's really some technical aspects to it, especially for more advanced runners.”
Learning how to run downhill without destroying your knees, surging out of a turn to make up for having to slow down and utilizing those tricks help improve time, according to Warner.
Freshman Sydney Beckle finished with a time of 14:19.1, and Warner said she performed well racing competitors, moving through packs and advancing to the following groups.
Ceci Roemer finished with a time of 13:02.6, Leah Moellmer clocked in at 14:36.3, and Jayden Byars finished at 14:59.4.
Besides a strong girls’ team performance, Ryan Beckle in the junior boys race raced well, and Warner noted he hasn't run since Middle School.
“He was also very actively racing against people, taking control when passing, advancing well, and posted a really decent time given the odd distance and his first time running,” Warner said.
Ian Williams, a junior, had a really good practice leading up to the meet and consequently had an excellent race as well, finishing with a time of 14:54.8.
“He's [Williams] been going longer distances and has been holding his own on speed workouts. He really has been getting better every week and his form improved a lot at this race,” Warner said about William’s improved performance.
Connor Alexander, with a time of 9:56.3 in the senior boys race, ran in a group of five that included athletes from Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy.
“Connor was stride for stride with that pack, running well against defending IML champ Logan Davis from Charter,” Warner said.
Warner said around 250 m point, the pack took off, elbowing and swimming through each other.
“It was really spectacular to see how badly those front guys wanted it,” Warner said about the final stride.
The Post Falls performance by the team was impressive for Warner, who stated the athletes pushed themselves, finding new horizons and showed maturity as runners.
Justin Strugar finished with a time of 12:05.3, Carson Dineen, 13:49.8 and Chase Xitco, with a time of 18:44.
